§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State of Health how many ambulance service personnel have taken early retirement on health grounds in each of the last five years; and what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the subject; and if he will make a statement. [12775]
§ Mr. MilburnIn the five-year period up to 24 February 1997, the national health service pension scheme awarded ill-health retirement benefits to 2,576 ambulance personnel retiring from NHS ambulance trusts in England and Wales. A year-on-year breakdown is not available.
In the last five years, the Department of Health has not commissioned any research on ambulancemen retiring early from the NHS on health grounds.